Miguel Ángel Lopez Discussion Thread

[Lequack]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1434609006920749065

View: https://twitter.com/APuroPedalCol/status/1434609006920749065?s=20

 

[noob]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1434609006920749065

View: https://twitter.com/APuroPedalCol/status/1434609006920749065?s=20

Translation?

 

[perico]

Unzue himself says Lopez didn’t have the legs to cover the break.

Translation?

Movistar manager says López's head 'disconnected' when he left Vuelta a España

'The attitude he took cannot be justified' says Unzué

www.cyclingnews.com

 

[Lequack]

Translation?

He said something in Spanish

 

[Escarabajo]

Translation?

More of the same. That he lost his head. In his experience he never lived that problem or something similar.

 

[Colombianfan]

If my theory is correct, he’s a Dutch guy with a slightly unhealthy obsession with Colombian pro cyclists.

English actually i like Sky/Ineos and Bernal is my fav rider.

 

[hrotha]

English actually i like Sky/Ineos and Bernal is my fav rider.

Twelve words and not a single insult. Definitely not Ryu.

 

[hfer07]

I wrote on the 20th stage thread about being a very tough one and whoever gets dropped or faded halfway or 20k before the finish line could lose big time. MAL should have known better, given his experience & regardless the internal "politics" or conflicts or whatever, He should have stuck to Roglic at all costs.

Misjudgment in every way we want to look at MAL's situation

 

[SHAD0W93]

I wrote on the 20th stage thread about being a very tough one and whoever gets dropped or faded halfway or 20k before the finish line could lose big time. MAL should have known better, given his experience & regardless the internal "politics" or conflicts or whatever, He should have stuck to Roglic at all costs.

Misjudgment in every way we want to look at MAL's situation

Even more people were predicting he’ll lose time and blow up “as per usual” at some point after the stage win.

 

[dusty red roads]

Maybe he's better being the sole GC guy (will he stay / will they keep him at Movi or will he perhaps wind up back at Astana)?

 

[Serpentin]

From the Netflix documentary you could see that he was not the right guy to go to Movistar. When he criticized Movistar tactics as the only team to ride after punctures/crashes and so on. Why did he move to a team when he knows how the DS etc. thinks.

Movistar made e mistake here.

 

[glassmoon]

Maybe he's better being the sole GC guy (will he stay / will they keep him at Movi or will he perhaps wind up back at Astana)?

If I was a domestic riding for him (as a solo leader) for 3 weeks only for him to abandon the race 1 stage before the end because he fell from 3rd to 5th I would probably punched him in the face though...

 

[Blanco]

Without team dynamics Lopez doesn’t lose it. We have seen this before with this team. They are obviously Spanish centric. Quintana and Carapaz got out. Now Lopez gets cranky.

I think Lopez has a recovery problem which also explains the 2020 TdF. Lopez feeling flat after getting himself in a podium position and put under big pressure to chase on a tricky stage. But Movistar are the common denominator. Without Movistar weirdness Lopez doesn’t lose it.

How? Explain please!
What could Movistar do to prevent him losing time yesterday? Only thing that comes to my mind is that Unzue comes with the car to do a Nibali/Sheffer move...

 

[Escarabajo]

If I was a domestic riding for him (as a solo leader) for 3 weeks only for him to abandon the race 1 stage before the end because he fell from 3rd to 5th I would probably punched him in the face though...

I don't agree. Without the other leader at Movistar he doesn't abandon. That is plain a simple. He bleeds 4-5 minutes with Bernal and that's it. Just as bad as the Tour 2020. He would be 5th right now riding for Astana. Or maybe higher because I am not sure how the dynamics of the team had played out in the first 2 weeks. Additionally, Astana does not ride with a sacrifice of a sole leader in mind. They are usually stage hunters. When he was in Astana I didn't see much sacrifice from the others until it was completely clear who was ahead and if there was a chance at the podium. Otherwise no sacrifices.

Don't get me wrong, I don't agree what he did, it was awful and stupid, but to assume that he would have done the same in the other team riding for himself is not correct.

 

[perico]

What team? There was no one left to ride for him. JJ Rojas isn’t exactly prized for his skills as a mountain domestique (though he is a decent climber for a former sprinter).

Unzue specifically says the orders from the car did not happen.

There are even some whispers out of Colombia that the team didn’t want López to possibly bounce ahead of Mas in Sunday’s final time trial, and conspired against him.

Unzué was having none of that and diplomatically said that it was up to López to shut down the move when the gap split.

“It was him who had to close this small gap, and unfortunately he could not,” Unzué said. “This is what caused the situation and the later consequences.”

Eusebio Unzué said there was 'no way' to convince Miguel Ángel López to carry on

Veteran manager said he's 'never seen anything like it' in his 40-year career after López abandoned the Vuelta a España.

www.velonews.com

 

[Escarabajo]

At Perico. I agree with what you are saying. But I am failing to see who you are are replying to.

 

[CyclistAbi]

Movistar all over again. We would be missing something. If it wouldn't have happened. Movistar did manage to secure the second place on podium overall and to take queen stage, though.

 

[Fantastico]

I don't agree. Without the other leader at Movistar he doesn't abandon. That is plain a simple.

Why is it plain simple? We do not know for sure what happened and why López left the race. It's pure speculation.

 

[Escarabajo]

Why is it plain simple? We do not know for sure what happened and why López left the race. It's pure speculation.

Why would he abandon if he was riding for himself? he never did it?
He has a hot head, that is a given, so in his hot head he had a rift against Mas. Whether right or wrong, I don't care. He thought in his hot head that he was being slowed down. Now we know that that was very stupid and false. I even said that. But without Mas, please tell me, why would he abandon? he never did it before and he had no reason, absolutely no reason to do it. He would have probably kept bleeding time for sure.

He was trash in 2019 Vuelta on stage 20 and was trash at the Tour on stage 20. he has some history of collapsing in some late stages. Even had a fight with a fan. He probably dodged a bullet in the Giro for hitting the fan. But soldiered on in all cases. he had no reason to quit. why would he quit? during the Tour this year he was pulled by Movistar because he was trash just riding with no form. But he wanted to make an effort to continue. But it was the right decision by Movistar. However I still fail to see why would he quit if he was riding for himself?

 

[perico]

At Perico. I agree with what you are saying. But I am failing to see who you are are replying to.

Whoever said Movistar was in the wrong.

 

[Escarabajo]

Movistar just didn't have a strong team on this stage, but Movistar didn't do anything wrong.

 

[Escarabajo]

I agree with some comments in Latin Podcasts that the relationship is very damaged. Especially for the silly things that came out from his family. That was really bad. I think Movistar should terminate his contract. Feel bad about it but relationship is very damaged. He is talented enough and someone else will pick him up at lesser value. Probably will put a clause or two to be protected from his outburst. I still think that he needs some professional help. Maybe Anger Management sessions.

https://www.revistamundociclistico.com/2021/eusebio-unzue-pone-en-duda-continuidad-de-miguel-angel-lopez-en-movistar/

 

[SHAD0W93]

I think it comes down to:

1. MAL was upset he had to share leadership with Mas and felt like he should get solo leadership as Mas lead at Tour.
2. The crashes depleting the teams resources even further shared between the two leaders.
3. Mas finishing ahead of him when he was doing majority of the attacking, not Mas.
4. Being left behind with no help from other teams and continuing his bad luck.

Honestly if you made all the jerseys the same, I don’t think anyone could tell they were riding for the same team. They both wanted their own glory.

 

[Carols]

I'd fire his ass in a minute. He missed the move and caused all the problems himself. No respect for the race, his teammates or himself.
Superbaby Lopez!

 

[Fantastico]

I think it comes down to:

1. MAL was upset he had to share leadership with Mas and felt like he should get solo leadership as Mas lead at Tour.
2. The crashes depleting the teams resources even further shared between the two leaders.
3. Mas finishing ahead of him when he was doing majority of the attacking, not Mas.
4. Being left behind with no help from other teams and continuing his bad luck.

Honestly if you made all the jerseys the same, I don’t think anyone could tell they were riding for the same team. They both wanted their own glory.

I don't know if that's true. They were also co-leaders in the Tour. Due to his crash, López just wasn't in the situation/shape to do anything noticeable there.